Inspiration In The Night

Wednesday, the 26^th of November 2025, very early morning 

#Tide #SeaSymphony #SciathlúireachMhuire 

I just woke up with a map of the final section of the 4th movement. I reached for my miniature pad of manuscript paper but it was not there. I had to get out of bed to get my notebook. It now has a structure for the model transposition of the cantus firmus, an augmented version of the ancient Irish melody which opens the movement and the figuration to turn it into a grand finale. 

Here’s the ancient Irish melody. 

Ancient Irish Melody 

Wednesday, the 26^th of November 2025, morning 

Making Music With The Percussion Orchestra 

#composing #workshop #CityLit  

It’s always inspiring making music with other people, but this morning was special – the Percussion Orchestra at City Lit led by Alex Thomas. When I arrived I was greeted warmly – everyone knew I was Alex‘s neighbour and a composer.  

We started with Peter‘s piece, a journey through his day focusing on food. Breakfast cereal. Cheese on toast. Cup of tea. Spaghetti Bolognese vegetables. We added rhythmic sections, more harmony, building the texture on the last chord of each section, then more vegetables – carrot, broccoli, potato, mushy peas, and that led naturally into an extended improvisation on the final riff. Now, they want me to write something for them! 

And hey presto, on the tube back, I sketched out a piece! It’s right there in my notebook. 

Wednesday, the 26^th of November 2025, evening

Inspiration On The Tube 

#Tube #inspiration #notebook #tuba  

On my way back home to collect my mouthpiece. I remembered the tuba (I had a reminder in my diary) but forgot the mouthpiece. You can’t play Tchaik 5 (or anything for that matter) without a mouthpiece. Appropriately, I am wearing my National Brain Appeal beanie. And it gives me time to finish the sketches for my latest piece, appropriately called Tube.